is of slight moment, by reason of their inhabitants being poor and naked,” and their best use is as a way-station from New Spain; and New Guinea on the other hand offers much profit in both temporal and religious matters, that their conquest be permitted to Legazpi. 21.  That, in case of Legazpi’s death before the conquest is effected, the petitioner, or Legazpi’s heir and successor, or the person appointed by him, may complete it.  This petition was vistoed in Madrid, March 2, 1569, although it had been presented a considerable time before that date.  After waiting for two years in vain for an answer to this petition Melchor de Legazpi presented another petition asking:  that efficient aid be sent his father; that he be confirmed in his title of governor and captain-general “with the salary that your highness is pleased to assign him, and with the other rewards contained in his [Legazpi’s] petition, ... and that he be not abandoned to die in despair at seeing himself forsaken and forgotten by his king;” that he be granted the four thousand ducats promised him by Velasco “in order that we might better prepare for the marriage of ... my sister, who is of marriageable age.”  The petition states that even had Legazpi’s expedition proved a failure, the king should not permit want to come upon his children, since his substance had been expended in the royal service.  In the third petition, Melchor de Legazpi requests that the office of accountant of the City of Mexico rendered vacant by the death of its incumbent, be bestowed upon him, in remembrance of his father’s services.  He says the family is “poverty-stricken and in debt,” because of his father having spent all his possessions in the king’s service.  The fourth petition presents information concerning Legazpi’s services.  The fifth petition requests that certain persons be received by the court as witnesses, and give information regarding Legazpi.  From the testimony of these persons it was shown that Legazpi was one of the oldest and most honored citizens of the City of Mexico; that he was a wealthy landholder of that city; and had lost his wealth through devotion to the king’s service, without receiving any reward therefor. (Tomo iii, no. xlvi, pp. 330-370.)

Warrant of the Augustinian Authorities in Mexico Establishing the First Branch of Their Brotherhood in the Philippines—­1564

Fray Pedro de Herrera, vicar-general of the Order of Hermits of our holy Father Augustine in the regions of the Indies, with Fray Diego de Vertavillo, provincial of the same order in this Nueva Espana, and Frays Antonio de Aguilar, Nicolas de Perea, Francisco de Villafuerte, and Juan de Medina, definitors [80]—­to our very dear Brethren in Christ, Andres de Urdaneta, prior, Diego de Herrera, Andres de Aguirre, Lorenzo de San Esteban, Martin de Rada, priests, and Fray Diego de Torres, to you, all and singular, everlasting greeting in the Lord.